Initially, many involved joked about how the conditions in the sweltering AT&T Center on Thursday for Game 1 of the NBA Finals reminded of sepia-toned memories. When we played poor. When we played outside.

Players were placing ice bags on their necks while sitting on the bench and during timeouts, and Heat star LeBron James told teammates during a stoppage in play that ‘they’re trying to smoke us out of here.’

The San Antonio point guard has pronounced himself ready to go for Thursday night’s Game 1 of the title series against the Miami Heat, after spending much of the last few days recovering from a sprain.